[prov356]

I believe you've actually witnessed the event, yes, congrats. But, I wouldn't connect the food, brevis are very easy spawners and don't need a trigger.

As far as what to do now, depends on how many, if any, fry you want to keep or raise. Personally, I'd let them be after a first spawn and not try to pull the shell. If you want to save and raise any, try to siphon some out when you first see them emerge from the shell. For maximum fry survival, they need their own tank, as they don't protect young, or are just really bad at it.

Once they get going, you'll get many every few weeks, so don't worry or be anxious about the first batch.

Enjoy!

 

[prov356]

will they eat them? If i leave them should i offer any fry food - is it inevitable they will all die?

Yes, unlikely any will survive in there. You might eventually find one lucky survivor if the rockwork, etc provides enough hiding, but I think it unlikely.

Now i have never raised tang fry - but in previous experience with livebearers and mouthbrooders i have at the appropriate time separated the brood from the female using a fry trap and housed the fry alone feeding them appropriate liquid foods or crumbled flake.

You can do the same with these guys.

should the fry stay with one or both parents or be alone?

You mean be kept with? They can stay with both, as they'll pretty much be ignored once free swimming. They'll do fine alone too IME.

How soon should i remove them?

You'll have to pull them young to get enough to grow out. I'd say otherwise they'll be gone within a week or so.

Do i have to pull the shell or could i use my new turkey baster to collect the fry for transfer?

I've never had luck with turkey basters. As soon as I pull it out of the water, everything goes back in the tank. Maybe it's me. Pulling the shell after free swimming will get the adults, but posssibly only a few fry if they've left the shell. They really don't hang long in the shell once free swimming. I use an airline to siphon, but you may need something a bit bigger as they can be hard to catch. Fry tend to just hit the deck, so go slow and watch for that. Be patient, get some, and then go back for more later. You don't want to scatter them all over the tank.

Would i pull the shell with eggs or wait for free swimming fry?

Pulling the shell before free swimming would be the strategy for maximum fry survival, but you'd have to pull adults too (as they'll probably dart into the shell) and it may be disruptive to them. Brevis seem to be very shy in a new tank, and you'd probably not see them much after the move. Not a problem, just is.

Also I know where i can get hatchable brine shrimp - but i have no experience with timing, hatching etc and could do with some guidance on this also - none of my books offers enough information on breeding.

I use crushed NLS. Easier and it works. I use a cheap coffee grinder.

Im very grateful

You're welcome. Let us know how they do for you.